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SHARING

Sharing is caring, and this small gem of a board book is a delight to share with little listeners.

Two bunnies but only one carrot—what to do? This engaging die-cut board book shows the way!

The book is populated by seven different pairs of animals and people, the duos and their expressive faces each performing a tiny, two-page drama, perfect for the toddler set. Two frustrated mice eye each other over a coveted chunk of cheese, their mouths dipped low and bodies adversarially positioned. A page turn and a little die-cut magic evenly split the tasty treat, and the mice are reconciled, their bodies now mirrored, grinning with circular ears overlapped and eyes blissfully closed. The book flawlessly culminates with two human children struggling for Mommy’s attention. Clever Mommy envelops the two halves into one whole inside a big hug. All three present White. For caregivers, accompanying short, straightforward sentences such as “Let’s each have a piece” are ideal for modeling social skills. Die cuts also nicely demonstrate early fraction concepts as friendly brown bears divide grapes or kittens cut a fish in half. The animals are striking and approachable, made of bubbly shapes bordered by thick, irregular black lines and filled with brightly saturated colors. A small, thick cardboard trim size is perfect for toddler hands, and the die cuts are sturdy.

Sharing is caring, and this small gem of a board book is a delight to share with little listeners. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-66265-000-0

Page Count: 20

Publisher: minedition

Review Posted Online: Sept. 28, 2020

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2020

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A KISSING HAND FOR CHESTER RACCOON

From the Kissing Hand series

Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original...

A sweetened, condensed version of the best-selling picture book, The Kissing Hand.

As in the original, Chester Raccoon is nervous about attending Owl’s night school (raccoons are nocturnal). His mom kisses him on the paw and reminds him, “With a Kissing Hand… / We’ll never be apart.” The text boils the story down to its key elements, causing this version to feel rushed. Gone is the list of fun things Chester will get to do at school. Fans of the original may be disappointed that this board edition uses a different illustrator. Gibson’s work is equally sentimental, but her renderings are stiff and flat in comparison to the watercolors of Harper and Leak. Very young readers will probably not understand that Owl’s tree, filled with opossums, a squirrel, a chipmunk and others, is supposed to be a school.

Parents of toddlers starting school or day care should seek separation-anxiety remedies elsewhere, and fans of the original shouldn’t look to this version as replacement for their page-worn copies. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: April 1, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-933718-77-4

Page Count: 14

Publisher: Tanglewood Publishing

Review Posted Online: May 18, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2014

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I AM A BIG BROTHER

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an...

A little boy exults in his new role as big brother.

Rhyming text describes the arrival of a new baby and all of the big brother’s rewarding new duties. He gets to help with feedings, diaper changes, playtime, bathtime, and naptime. Though the rhyming couplets can sometimes feel a bit forced and awkward, the sentiment is sweet, as the focus here never veers from the excitement and love a little boy feels for his tiny new sibling. The charming, uncluttered illustrations convincingly depict the growing bond between this fair-skinned, rosy-cheeked, smiling pair of boys. In the final pages, the parents, heretofore kept mostly out of view, are pictured holding the children. The accompanying text reads: “Mommy, Daddy, baby, me. / We love each other—a family!” In companion volume I Am a Big Sister, the little boy is replaced with a little girl with bows in her hair. Some of the colors and patterns in the illustrations are slightly altered, but it is essentially the same title.

A good choice for caregivers looking for a positive, uncomplicated introduction to a new baby that focuses on everything an older sibling can do to help. (Board book. 2-4)

Pub Date: Jan. 27, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-545-68886-4

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Cartwheel/Scholastic

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2015

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